A study conducted by a head of scientists over at John Hopkins claims that pre-diabetic individuals losing weight of about 10 percent half a year after it has been identified are less prone to acquire type 2 diabetes for the following three years.
The research yielded results that aim to lead patients and doctors on the effect of changes done over a short period of time to that of one’s health in the long run.
Leading the study was Nisa Maruthur, M.D., M.H.S. and an assistant professor from the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine stated that losing weight significantly lessens the chances of diabetes. They have now concluded that the presence of weight loss advantage during the six weeks after diabetes diagnosis will be a huge milestone in diabetes prevention.
Maruthur also added that attempts to avoid further severity of pre-diabetes are a challenge. Diabetes that is not under control or that of which is characterized by too much blood sugar levels are the cases that may induce complications in the eye, nerves, cardio, and kidney. The study recommends that if in any case the pre-diabetic patient refuses to loose weight, doctors will have to prescribe other medications to alleviate sugar levels.
Found at the Journal of General Internal Medicine is a complete online copy of this said research.
The study was based on the information and findings Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) being the most sought-after study on diabetes prevention in the US. From the year 1996 to 1997, people with excess weight and hyperglycemia were scouted and observed for more than three years. Thousands of participants of about over 3,000 from 27 scholastic medical institutions were designated for accommodating intervention or placebo. Maruthur and co-researchers used the gathered data to formulate a link between quick weight loss and complicated diabetes in the future.
Pre-diabetic people have increased sugar levels compared to the normal rate yet are not relatively high to be identified as type 2. Not all pre-diabetic patients acquire a type 2 but the absence of cure or prevention heightens the risks of acquiring so with a matter of 10 years is significantly high. Fortunately, Maruthur claims, studies similar to what they conducted recognizes the uncertainty of developing type 2 diabetes from pre-diabetes and that healthy living can revive normal blood sugar levels.
People who took part of the DPP lifestyle monitoring received advise on healthy diets, recommended to do 150 minutes of exercise a week and a comprehensive counseling that transpired for the initial 6 months which is followed by a clustered counseling. Results showed that those who underwent the intervention shed around or more than 10% of their weight benefitted from 85% decrease in the chances of acquiring complicated diabetes in 3 years. Less percent of weight loss still made up for 54% of reduced risks for other participants.
On the other hand, participants who took metformin, a glucose-reducing drug for the liver, showed no signs of weight loss although their sugar levels decreased in 6 months. Nonetheless, diabetes was still at a high risk.
Maruthur confirms that the best lowered blood sugar levels are those on those patients who lost weight and lowered their glucose amounts seen in blood tests following fasting.
She also stated that at a common rate, she finds it delightful when patients loose 3-5% of body weight. However, this new study gave her a conclusion that there might be a need to increase metformin prescription if patients continue to fail in losing weight.
With the research results, Maruthur claims that metformin prescription might be best done on patients who can not or may not loose weight, instead of giving the drug to pre-diabetic patients.
Physicians such as Maruthur talk their patients into the lowered risks of type 2 diabetes once pre-diabetes is diagnosed. She says that patients will get this discussed with their doctor but not on a repeated basis anymore—six months apart appointments, to see results.
Maruthur also stated the lack of lifestyle interventions from doctors due to the shortage in insurance coverage. The study presently shows the significance and practicality of interventions are potential of.
